Charter group needs to be more forthright

Saturday

Apr 20, 2013 at 12:01 AM

So far the proposed Davidson Charter Academy has hit a few bumps in the road. The organizers behind the academy submitted an application with the state to open the school in 2014. However, the application has been rejected due to incomplete information. But Davidson Charter leaders went ahead with an informational meeting for prospective parents Tuesday and failed to mention the rejection, despite being asked specifically about it.

So far the proposed Davidson Charter Academy has hit a few bumps in the road. The organizers behind the academy submitted an application with the state to open the school in 2014. However, the application has been rejected due to incomplete information. But Davidson Charter leaders went ahead with an informational meeting for prospective parents Tuesday and failed to mention the rejection, despite being asked specifically about it.The issues appear to be mostly technicalities: financial information submitted to the state differed from that given to local superintendents (organizers blamed a clerical error), and an academic calendar wasn't included (organizers discussed it during the process, so it's a subject they considered). So the appeal may be accepted once the matters are addressed, and the application may quickly move back on track. But organizers need to be transparent in their efforts, and they should have told the approximately 30 people who attended the meeting the status and explained the circumstances.Nothing riles up city and county leaders more than directives issued from the state that run counter to local wishes. Cities across the state could face major financial holes if the General Assembly passes tax reform bills that would reduce or eliminate cities' ability to levy franchise, privilege and sales taxes. The state's tax code clearly needs some revision to reflect 21st-century realities, and some of those changes might be fair and best in the long run but initially painful. But state legislators need to be careful not to pass laws that could put cities in difficult circumstances without some type of financial relief.Some folks still just think of books when they hear about libraries, but today's libraries offer so much more. A story Thursday highlighted how a patron of the Lexington Library used services there to land a new job as a truck driver. Many services are available through the five branches of the Davidson County Public Library, and the system is a leader in technological efforts across the state. And don't forget about the upcoming Friends of the Lexington Library book sale next weekend, a major fundraiser for the Lexington branch.Catch your breath before saying the names of Davidson County's two hospitals. Lexington has Wake Forest Baptist Health — Lexington Medical Center while as of Wednesday Thomasville has Novant Health Thomasville Medical Center. Medical center is replacing hospital as a favored term, to reflect the wide range of services. And corporate parents like including their name in the local facilities. But don't be surprised for most locals to use a shortened version of the official names.